Left atrial stiffness predicts cardiac events in patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction: The impact of diabetes

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between diabetes mellitus (DM) and left atrial (LA) remodelling in a group of patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), and their combined impact on cardiac events (CE). Methods: This study included 136 consecutive HFrEF patients (65 ± 11 years), 36 had DM, and 86 had increased LA stiffness (LASt). All patients underwent complete conventional and tissue Doppler echocardiographic measurements were made including LA volumes and function. LASt was calculated using the formula: LASt = E/e’ ratio / PALS. Results: At 55 ± 37 months follow-up, free survival from CE was 69% in patients without DM and 44.4% in those with DM (p